Heat Wave: Cooling centers open, beach hours extended

CYNDI MURRAY | Old Steeple Church has some fun with a heat wave message Monday.

Update: Riverhead Town has opened a cooling center in Aquebogue and will extend town beach hours as residents try to stay cool.

The Senior and Human Resources Center at 60 Shade Tree Lane will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Friday to provide water and air conditioning for those who can’t beat the heat, Supervisor Sean Walter said in a statement Monday.

Beaches will also remain open with lifeguards on duty until 7 p.m., officials said.

The National Weather Service issued a Heat Advisory for Suffolk County Monday afternoon until 8 p.m. Residents are advised to drink plenty of fluids, seek air conditioning, and stay out of the sun.

Original Story: A mid-summer heat wave will bring high temperatures in the low- to mid-90s and muggy conditions that may feel as hot as 100 degrees to the North Fork throughout this week, weather officials said.

The high temperatures are expected to begin today, Monday, with a high in the low 90s, said National Weather Service meteorologist Ashley Sears. Those temperatures will stay about the same through Tuesday, and will climb into the mid-90s by Wednesday, she said.

The area won’t see relief from the heat until as late as Sunday, when a string of thunderstorms could cool off the area, Ms. Sears said.

Because of the weather, Riverhead Town officials announced Monday that town beaches will remain open and staffed unti 7 p.m. from Monday through Friday.

The heat wave is caused by a system of hot, dry air that’s parked over most of the eastern United States, from everywhere north of the Mason-Dixon line and east of the Mississippi.

“We have this massive high pressure system that’s ushering in the dry weather and the really high temperatures,” Ms. Sears said.

Though a heat advisory is in effect for Nassau County and most of the tri-state area, no advisory has been issued for Suffolk County yet. Ms. Sears said the advisories are only put out when heat indexes reach 100 degrees.

Still, residents should take precautions, she said.

People are advised to stay indoors when possible, drink plenty of fluids, wear light clothing and not exert themselves outdoors if possible, she said. Pets are also vulnerable to the heat and should be well cared for, Ms. Sears added.

Residents without air conditioning should look to visit a mall, shopping center or a friend or family member who may have air conditioning to cool off.